Majorthebys Charming and brutal

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Robert J. Maxwell A based-on-fact story of Jimmy Piersall, a major league player of the 1950s who suffered what looks like a major depression with some paranoid ideas. Not much could be done with major league mental illnesses at the time, before the French accidentally discovered anti-psychotic meds. The movie ends, as all such movies do whenever possible, on an up-beat note with Piersall (Tony Perkins) returning to the Red Sox after defeating his demons.I have no idea how closely the movie sticks to the real facts of Piersall's life, but it certainly hews close to the formula line. Basically, everything is blamed on Piersall's father (Karl Malden), who pushed the kid too hard, brutally sometimes, to excel. Nothing would do but that Piersall not only play for the Sox but that he play the OUTFIELD. Shortstop wasn't good enough. Poor kid. While still in the minors, in Scranton, he brags to his pop that he's the third highest hitter in the league. Malden smiles and says, "Well, that's not first." Think about that, next time your kid comes home with a B plus on his report card. You want to drive him nuts? I don't doubt that Piersall's father was pushy about his son's training and career. For all we know there may be as many sports fathers as there are stage mothers. But it seems a bit unfair to make him the sole heavy. It's not easy to drive someone crazy, not as easy as it seems in the movies anyway. It helps a lot, especially with major affective disorders, if you bring something genetic to the party, as numerous studies have shown. Not that genetics explains everything, because one identical twin may "get it" while the other doesn't.Anyway, the movie isn't very satisfying, as a movie. The director, Robert Mulligan, has done better work elsewhere. And Tony Perkins gives a by-the-numbers performance as a madman, with his facial muscles trembling and his eyes bulging. How primitive can you get? He was a much better (if entirely different) kind of psychotic in "Psycho." An improved script might have helped him. Malden is okay as the well-meaning but destructive father whom Perkins finally tells off at the cathartic climax. Perkins' wife's role is underwritten and doesn't contribute much as Malden's potential rival.It would have been nice too if we'd seen a little more about baseball, the sport and the career ladder, and less of the formulaic material on having a breakdown. At least your performance on the baseball diamond is something you can do something about. In the grip of mental illness like Piersall's, you're practically helpless, and that's not too dramatic.

MARIO GAUCI This is one of a myriad sporting biopics made by Hollywood around this time – and whose appeal didn't really travel to other countries because the sport involved (or, for that matter, the star player whose life story we're supposed to be viewing) is only appreciated by Americans: in this case, Jim Piersall and baseball. Anyway, while not exactly better than similar biopics, the film is sufficiently different (and therefore interesting) in view of its inherent psychological elements dealing as it does with Piersall's mental breakdown.The pre-requisite Method performances ensure a rather melodramatic approach and I'm quite surprised how Anthony Perkins' excellent central performance did not win him any accolades, whereas director Mulligan was nominated for the Directors' Guild Award for his work here when, in hindsight, I cannot help thinking how much better the film would have been in the hands of, say, Elia Kazan or Nicholas Ray. His handling is competent but predictable – down to the inspirational final shot; as for the the scenes at the mental institution, these don't garner as much power as they ought to, since it's made obvious from the start that Piersall's problem lies in his troubled relationship with his bullying father (Karl Malden). Even so, Elmer Bernstein's fine score is a definite asset to the film.

callanvass This is an underrated masterpiece in my opinion, as it's really powerful and engrossing, with a brilliant story and Oscar worthy performances!. All the characters are wonderful, and this is now one of my favorite Biography films, plus Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden are simply incredible in this!. It has some pretty good baseball action and the scene with Perkins and his dad Karl Malden in the institution room, was so incredibly powerful and gripping, as it's one scene I will never ever forget!. It's extremely well made and written, and a lot of people had said that they thought Perkins was miscast, and while I respect there opinion, I have to disagree 100% as nobody could have pulled off the role as well he did, he was just so intense, as it's the best performance I have seen since Psycho, plus you will hate Malden's character for pushing Jimmy Piersall too hard!. It really is a shame that this film Doesen't get the recognition it deserves, and the ending really made me happy and put a big smile on my face, plus there is also a very powerful scene when Perkins injures his leg Ice skating and his dad goes ballistic and almost has a heart attack.I was lucky enough to find this at a DVD store pretty cheap, and I must say this went far past my expectations, plus I think Perkins and Malden deserved Oscars for there performances!, in my opinion!. You will really root for Perkins character, and while I could tell Malden really loved his son, he was pushing him way too hard as I seriously cheered when he told him no more at the mental institution!. If your looking for a top notch Biography film look no further then this, and it's also got a great love story in it as well, plus Jimmy Piersall seemed to be a fascinating person and a very good ball player from what I saw in the movie. Norma Moore and Perkins had excellent chemistry together, and there are also quite a few intense scenes as well, plus I was surprised by Perkins athleticism!. This should be even higher then 6.9 in my opinion, and all the characters are very likable for the most part, plus there is not one dull moment. This is an underrated masterpiece in my opinion, as it's really powerful and engrossing, with a brilliant story and Oscar worthy performances, and if you Haven't seen it please do so immediately you shouldn't regret it!.The Direction is outstanding!. Robert Mulligan does an outstanding! Job here with fantastic camera work, adding good atmosphere and keeping the film at an extremely engrossing my space.The Acting is Oscar worthy in my opinion. Anthony Perkins is amazing as always and is incredible here, he gives an Oscar worthy performance, was incredibly intense, and I can't believe the people that said he was miscast, I mean I can't see anybody else playing Jimmy Piersall, we are also able to root for him and hope he gets better, and the scene where has has a mental breakdown on the field was just so emotional and very intense, this is his 2nd best performance next to Psycho, he was simply incredible! (Perkins Rules!!!!!!!). Karl Malden is also incredible here and gives an Oscar worthy performance as well, as the domineering father, you will hate him for pushing Jimmy too hard, however I could kind of see why he was doing it after all he just wanted the best life style for him, he really was incredible!. Norma Moore is excellent as the wife, she was very likable and had good chemistry with Perkins I liked her. Adam Williams is awesome as the Doc in his scenes I liked him a lot. Perry Wilson is fine as the Mom. Rest of the cast are fine.Overall go see it immediately you shouldn't regret it!. ***** out of 5

dencar_1 FEAR STRIKES OUT has to be the classic compulsive "sports Dad" movie. I think every father with a son in sports should be required to see this film--especially after what we've seen recently with regard to parents in fist fights at their sons' Little League games. If ever there was an overbearing, driving patriarchal figure trying to live out his past inadequacies through his son in sports, Jimmy Piersall's father was he. In fact, I watch this movie not so much for the Jimmy Piersall story so much as to see Karl Malden's portrayal of John Piersall! Of course, we don't know how much is embellished, but if Mr. Piersall was even half of what is depicted in this movie, it is little wonder that Jimmy Piersall once hit a home run and ran around the bases backwards...Could anyone play a more iron-fisted character than Karl Malden? Watch PARRISH (1963) or BOMBERS B-52 sometime to see the equal of Piersall's Dad in FEAR STRIKES OUT. And Piersall's mother? Again, no one knows how accurate the depiction is, but she is a ghost presence and if that is true, it's just another nail in Piersall's psychological coffin.Even watching this movie as a kid, I was uncomfortable seeing Piersall pounded cruelly again and again by his Dad to do better, to go higher, to do more. Once he's romanced by The Boston Red Sox, Mr. Piersall becomes Jimmy's indispensable "advisor." All of this grows until Jimmy can do nothing without consulting Dad. The result is his father's eternal presence between his ears and the classic breakdown scene at the park when Piersall climbs the fence, an unforgettable moment, especially if you see this as an adolescent.Reviews concerning Anthony Perkins'lack of athletic ability always come up when this movie is discussed. Actually, this was characteristic of most sports movie bio's back in the 1940's and 1950's. Watch William Bendix as Babe Ruth, Ronald Reagan as Grover Cleveland Alexander, or Dan Daily as Dizzy Dean. Routine throwing and catching resembles something you used to see a "nerd" do at school recess. And this movie quirk wasn't present in baseball films only.I've always wondered just who this movie is about: Jimmy Piersall or his father? The scene in which the psychiatrist confronts Mr. Piersall at the sanitarium is painful and very sad. I've also always wondered just what Piersall's thoughts must have been when this movie hit the screens: for his was still active in the major leagues. How many teams did Jimmy Piersall play for? How many fist fights? And his announcing career? Full of controversy. Maybe it would have all happened without John Piersall, but it is doubtful. Next time a boy wishes his father was more into sports, remind him of John Piersall.Exhibit 'A' for all fathers living vicariously through the sports achievements of their sons. Dennis Caracciolo